Bear’s Den tap into love’s mournful depths in the beautifully bittersweet “All That You Are,” learning to let go in a graceful and soul-stripped ballad full of empathy, vulnerability, and selflessness.
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Stream: “All That You Are” – Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den have never been ones to shy away from deep, visceral emotions: The band’s music has long had a poignant tint to it, and whether that’s come from soaking in nostalgia or reckoning with real life loss or heartache, their songs resonate with the sting of life’s scars: Those memories, like wounds, that we carry with us every day.
In faithful fashion, their new song feels like a familiar friend from long ago – largely because, for those paying close attention, it is: The beautifully bittersweet “All That You Are” was penned nearly ten years ago, and it’s finally been born in 2021. Bear’s Den tap into love’s mournful depths as they learn to let go in a radiant tearjerker full of compassion, vulnerability, profound maturity, and inner strength.
Goodnight, don’t cry
You never loved me like you think you did
So long cold stone
Nothing to say here, nothing to be done
I hope you find someone who loves you
For all that you are
I hope I find someone who loves me
for all that I am
It takes a special kind of empathy to recognize, accept, and walk away from unrequited love.
Released November 17, 2021 via the band’s own Communion Music label, “All That You Are” is a heartbreaking and welcome return from Bear’s Den’s Andrew Davie and Kevin Jones, who largely spent the past year in hibernation (though to their credit, they released the orchestral album Fragments and the Christmas, Hopefully winter EP last year).
Nearly ten years old, “All That I Am” was born on the band’s first tour, which was documented in the 2012 film Austin to Boston as Bear’s Den toured America alongside Ben Howard, The Staves, and Nathaniel Rateliff. It’s been a soundcheck jam for so long and feels like an intrinsic part of what Bear’s Den stands for as a band, even if it’s been unreleased for so long,” Andrew Davie says.
I spoke to your sister
Told her I’m sorry
Told her we tried
Goodnight, please don’t cry
You never loved me like you think you did
I hope you find someone who loves you for all that you are
I hope I find someone who love me for all that I am
All that I am… All that I am
The long-awaited recorded version is a moody, comforting, and warm folk rock ballad that washes over the ears and seeps into the skin. Ambient and earthen, with tender guitars and a strong organic drum beat, the song rises gently over four minutes, elegantly blossoming into a sort of dreamy orchestral reverie thanks to instrumental arranging and accompaniment from Sally Herbert (Rex Orange County, Florence and the Machine, Liam Gallagher), Matt Douglas (Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso), and Paul Frith (with whom the band previously collaborated on Fragments).
“It’s a song fundamentally about hoping for happiness for someone else even if you can’t be the one that makes them happy. It’s also about not being ashamed about looking for that same happiness for yourself.” Davie shares. “In a way it feels like a mission statement of the band to reconnect with this song from way back when and to perform it unashamedly with a bold and beautiful string arrangement from Sally Herbert and some beautiful performance from some friends of ours both old and new.”
From the opening line, “Goodnight, don’t cry, you never loved me like you think you did,” to the sweeping grand finale and softly sung last goodbye, “All That I Am” is gracefully soul-stripped and stirring: A heart laid bare in fond farewell. It’s a prayer to someone you loved, and will continue to love – even though the two of you aren’t right for one another. It’s a hard-earned life lesson we can listen to and perhaps learn from, should we ever find ourselves in the same sorrowful situation.
I hope you find someone who loves you for all that you are
I hope I find someone who love me for all that I am
Once again, Bear’s Den have exceeded all expectations in creating music that radiates truth, pain, surrender, and ultimately, love.
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Stream: “All That You Are” – Bear’s Den
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